Poles Unite

The scene of reconciliation recalls the figural compositions from the historical paintings, but in Rafał Dominik’s drawing, the gravity of a known iconographic theme becomes almost comical. Static silhouettes of uniting Poles seem monumental, but misshapen – like a primitive, naïve statue. Frozen in a handshake, the half-naked Poles look like Stone Age humans, even though their hairstyles (especially women’s) are definitely contemporary. One could suspect that the process of uniting of the Poles has been going on for many centuries, but stalled – despite best efforts. Maybe it’s not meant to ever be completed.